Founded in 1902, Phi Alpha Tau is the nation’s oldest professional communicative arts fraternity. We are based out of Emerson College in downtown Boston, and our brothers are among the brightest students within the School of the Arts and the School of Communications. We award honorary recognition to Emerson faculty as well as nationally prominent figures. On campus we enjoy the brotherhood of many professors and administrators. Tau is not a residential fraternity, though we view our bond of brotherhood as a lifelong commitment. Our events tend to expand our professional pursuits, though our annual wine and cheese cocktail party and the Tau Carol Sing are always highlights of the year. You will recognize us on campus by our formal attire, which we require for our business meetings. We encourage you to learn more about us through this website, our Wikipedia article, and our Facebook page.

Joseph Awgul (2014)
Pledge Class: Fall 2013
Joe has been involved in a number of on campus television organizations, holding leadership positions at The Emerson Channel as the Director of Education from the spring 2012 to fall 2012, Emerson Independent Video as an Executive Producer in the fall of 2012 and is currently one of the Executive Producers of The 33rd Annual EVVY Award. He has worked as a Production Assistant on a number of productions, including the Video Music Awards Pre-Show, The X Factor and TLC’s Who Do You Think You Are. He has a passion for reality television, specifically competition shows, and award shows. Joe joined Tau late in my Emerson career because he saw how each of the brothers genuinely cared about one another and he began to understand how much this organization meant to them. Pledging Tau has been, without a doubt, the best thing to happen to him at Emerson College.

Julian Baeza Hochmuth (2017)
Pledge Class: Fall 2013
This Sound Design and Audio Post Production Major splits his time between producing and releasing electronic music under the name Beeza and working as a freelance sound designer. Before arriving at Emerson, Julian had created sound design pieces for feature length movie trailers like The Call, White House Down, Only God Forgives, and, most notably, Pacific Rim. . Having this portfolio going in to college was part of what attracted him to Phi Alpha Tau. He wanted to be connected with like-minded, professionals who could help him succeed. Less than a week after the pledge process ended, he was already getting offers for projects and sound collaborations with members of the active brotherhood. For Julian, that was part of the point of joining Tau; getting connected with people who could use his unique skill set and challenge him. The end goal for Julian is doing sound design and scoring for film.

Christian Bergren-Aragon (2015)
Pledge Class: Spring 2012Christian Bergren-Aragon hails from Glenwood Springs, CO which was named in 2011 as the most fun town in America accordingly to Rand McNally the map-making company. Christian likes to believe that because he was raised in the most fun town in America, he too is a very fun and outgoing person. Studying Journalism with an emphasis in Broadcast at Emerson College, he joined Phi Alpha Tau during his Freshman year because he had always longed for a group of men that cared so deeply about one another. To him, Tau is more than a group of men that simply interact socially, it is an organization that fosters love. Each brother is personally invested in the success of the gentlemen to his left and to his right. While at Emerson, Christian has worked for both EIV News at 6 and 9 as an anchor and a reporter, respectively. He has lead two national social media campaigns, one to meet his idol Matt Lauer (#ChristianBAonToday) and one to raise money for a fellow brother in need of a medical surgery. This past year, he started a production company (gr8m8 Productions) with two fellow brothers, Courtland Noble and Brendan Scully. This summer they will be traveling the US in an effort to answer the question to one question: What Unites America? Christian would like to dedicate this life to his grandfather, Alvin Bergren.

Darian Carpenter (2015)
Pledge Class: Fall 2013
Darian currently attends Emerson College as a Film Production Major in the Visual and Media Arts Department. Growing up in Southern Massachusetts, Darian knew that he had to strive and reach new heights both in knowledge and experience if he wanted to make it in the industry. With a passion for many creative outlets like music, fashion and performance; Darian finds that he has a surplus of areas to thrive in. Working as both a Resident Assistant on campus as well as a Social Media and Video Assistant for ArtsEmerson, he finds a balance within professionalism and self-expression. Look out for him, as he hopes to travel the world and work in creating new, exciting productions.

Alex Clark (2016)
Pledge Class: Spring 2013
Alex is a sophomore Studio Television Production Major in the Visual and Media Arts Department and is also working towards a Marketing Minor. On campus, Alex has held production and talent roles on the Emerson Channel, and is a part of the EVVY Awards. Alex is also a Student Ambassador for Emerson College and is the Student Brand Manager of Chipotle on the Emerson campus. He spent his summer as a production intern at VIA, a marketing agency based in Portland, Maine and is currently studying at Kasteel Well. In the future, Alex hopes to pursue a production position at MTV.

Donald Collins (2015)
Pledge Class: Spring 2013
A Screenwriting Major at Emerson College, he is currently working on several personal projects, including a feature film script, and several television specs. Over the last three years, Mr. Collins has worked as a Technical Assistant at the Paramount Theatre’s Office of the Arts, a Student Ambassador for Emerson College’s Visitor’s Center, and is currently a Resident Assistant in the Little Building. He was drawn to Phi Alpha Tau by his admiration for the active brothers and their creative accomplishments, as well as his desire for a social and professional support network. He pledged the fraternity in Spring 2013. Tau went on to fundraise over $21,000 to help Mr. Collins afford a gender-confirming surgery, the excess of which he and the brotherhood pledged to the Jim Collins Foundation (no relation) to help other trans* people in need. Mr. Collins also does occasional transgender advocacy work, having most recently given a talkback at Wesleyan University with fellow-brother John Lewis.

Nic Damasio (2016)
Pledge Class: Fall 2013
Nic Damasio is a Sound Design/Audio Post-Production student from Hanover, Massachusetts. He spent his freshman year of college studying Biology at Emmanuel College but transferred to Emerson to pursue his love of music and sound. Nic is a Brazilian American who speaks three languages and spent two years of his life living in Brazil. Nic has worked as a server at Bertucci’s and Finale. Some of his interests include music, going to shows and festivals, and DJing. He is part of the Fall 2013 Pledge Class of Phi Alpha Tau and was interested in joining for the idea of brotherhood and the unwavering support system that it provides. Being in Tau has already benefited Nic in so many ways. It has already given him a better college experience, friendship, and professionalism. He is excited to see where it will take him in the years to come.

Jackson Davis (2017)
Pledge Class: Fall 2013
This B.A. Film major is a proud member of the Fall 2013 Pledge Class of Phi Alpha Tau. Joining as a first-semester Freshman, Tau was one of the first organizations he joined, though he plans on getting much more involved in various organizations across Emerson College throughout the next four years here. Jackson grew up in New York, where he was heavily involved in the drama and film programs at his high school. When asked what he plans on doing with his career after Emerson, he likes to say that he has no idea but he can’t wait to find out. He knows that whatever he chooses to do, Tau will guide him every step of the way.

Christopher Dobens (2016)
Fall 2013 Pledge Class
A Marketing Communications major with a minor in Entrepreneurial Studies, he is currently employed by Housing and Residence Life as a Resident Assistant and in the Media Services Center as a Media Assistant. Currently, he holds no leadership positions at Emerson College, however he does hope to one day be on the Executive Board of the fraternity. In terms of leadership qualities, he is a very driven student who is constantly looking for a challenge and an opportunity to show that he can succeed. He plans on pursuing a philanthropic career path to continue giving to those in need, especially after becoming a creator of the Boston Strong T-shirt Campaign. The main reason why Chris wanted to join Phi Alpha Tau was to have a sense of brotherhood. He wanted a reliable group of gentlemen who would support me in my endeavors and teach him what they have to offer because they care. He now have this incredible group of men in his life who know how to deal with business, but know how to be the best friends that he’s always wanted.

James (Jamie) Emmerman (2014)
Pledge Class: Spring 2012.
Jamie is currently a junior B.A. Publishing Arts: Feature Writing, Photography, and Design major. On campus, Jamie has held a variety of positions but dedicated this year to his role as Editor in Chief of em Magazine, Emerson’s premier culture and fashion publication. He aims to work in the magazine industry after graduation, either in graphic design, writing, or photography. He most recently interned in the art department of Vanity Fair, and before that worked as an editorial and photography intern for both Interview and Boston Common magazines. Jamie hopes to return to New York this summer to intern at another publication before he graduates in the winter of 2014.

Danny Irwin (2014)
Pledge Class: Fall 2012
A BA Theatre Studies: Acting Major, Danny is currently the Music Director the campus A cappella grow, Acapppellics Anonymous, as well as holding the Music Director Chair on the Musical Society Executive Board. Some notable promotions he has performed in include The Shakespearean Jazz Show (created by brother alum and grand-big brother, Alex Ates), The Pride, Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, Glory Days, Songs of Shakespeare, Urinetown, and Loves Labors Lost, among others. He was also in the independent film, The Mouth, and featured in a web series pilot by two his brothers, Mr. Schlebecker and Mr. Weiser (Webseries). He is originally from Boulder, Colorado, and decided to come east to pursue the theatre arts. After graduation (looming on the horizon), he plans on simply auditioning and seeing where this work takes him from there; preferably staying out east. And of course, staying in close contact with his brothers.

Christopher Kavanah (2014)
Pledge Class: Fall 2011. Vice President, Phi Alpha Tau
Christopher is a Senior BFA Theatre Design/Technology Scenic Designer. He is a member of the Fall 2011 Pledge Class. As a junior Christopher served as the Scenic Designer for Emerson Stage’s Tartuffe, directed by Emerson Stage’s Senior Distinguished Producing Director-in-Residence, Benny Sato Ambush. Christopher then designed the set of the 32nd Annual EVVY Awards in the historic Cutler Majestic Theatre. He also works as a Scenic Artist at the Tony Award winning American Repertory Theatre. There, Christopher has worked on such productions as Pippin (winner of 4 Tony Awards), All The Way (starring Bryan Cranston), Marie Antoinette, The Donkey Show: Miami, as well as Madama Butterfly and The Magic Flute (Boston Lyric Opera), Far From Heaven (Williamstown Theatre Festival), and The Music Man (Glimmerglass Festival). Christopher is also a classically trained musician, having studied Oboe and English Horn with members of the world-renowned West Point Military Academy Band and Philadelphia Orchestra.

Kyle Koslick (December 2013)
Pledge Class: Fall 2011.
Kyle is a senior Marketing Communications major minoring in Health Communication. He is currently a Brand Strategy Intern at Allen & Gerritsen. As a brother of Phi Alpha Tau, Kyle developed the position of Community Outreach Chair, which he headed for two semesters, working closely to build relationships between Emerson College and the Boston Arts Academy. His love for the Fraternity stems from the ambition and talent of his fellow brothers who inspire him to work harder and give more of himself every day.

John Lewis (Fall 2014)
Pledge Class: Spring 2013
A Film Production major focusing on Directing and Cinematography, John is also a member of many organizations on campus such as Mercutio Troupe, Emerson Dance Company, and Emerson Ice Hockey. John is currently serving in his second year as a Resident Assistant for the Little Building. Outside of the classroom, John is employed in several positions around campus and Boston. He is a lighting and sound technician for the Emerson Cabaret, a lighting director and videographer for Emerson Productions, and he is also an intern videographer for Together PAC, the Political committee of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. John hopes to attend the Emerson LA Program in the fall of 2014 and graduate that December; after which he aspires to fulfill his dream of working in Hollywood on feature films both in front and behind the camera.

Benjamin Lindsay (2014)
Pledge Class: Fall 2011
Ben is a senior at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, where he built his own interdisciplinary degree program titled Magazine Publishing & Feature Writing with a focus in film studies. He’s an active brother of Phi Alpha Tau, pledge class of Fall 2011. In addition to working for a number of Emerson brands, he’s worked as a blogger and editorial intern for a slew of national brands, including The Hollywood Reporter, Interview magazine, Out magazine, and the city’s own Boston magazine. He continues to freelance for Interview, THR, and most recently, W magazine, as an assistant, transcriber and blogger. He also writes for Thought Catalog, and he is a server at Myers + Chang in the city’s south end. He considers joining Tau as one of the best decisions he’s made at Emerson, and it’s due to the brotherhood and love he’s felt in his last three years as an undergrad.

Paul McGlew (2015)
Pledge Class: Spring 2013. Historian, Phi Alpha Tau
Paul is a junior BFA Acting Major in the Department of Performing Arts. On campus, Paul has performed in both student and main stage productions, including those with the Emerson Stage, Emerson Shakespeare Society, Mercutio, Kidding Around, and RareWorks. Once a daytime dj on WERS, Paul also holds leadership positions on the executive boards of both Emerson Shakespeare Society (Director of Programing) and Phi Alpha Tau. Paul works for the Office of the Arts as an usher at events in Emerson’s main theaters, and also a Student Ambassador for Emerson College.Paul became interested in Tau after hearing of their good works and the interpersonal connections it offered. Having joined the fraternity, he has gained more knowledge about the history of the college itself and a clearer sense of his intended post-graduate direction.

Courtland Noble (2015)
Pledge Class: Fall 2013
There are a few things in life that absolutely astonish him. The fact that he is a conscious being with feelings, thoughts, and logic is one of these things. Less philosophically are the things that get him out of bed in the morning. These include animation, technology, nature, and a drive to learn more every day. Emerson has furthered these fascinations exponentially by allowing him to get involved in so many great organizations. For most of the ones with which he is involved, he design graphics—both motion and static—and he has realized he want to pursue a career in design because of his involvement in these groups. This year, he’ll be leading the team that will be creating the graphics for the 33rd Annual EVVY Awards. Additionally, he has joined Phi Alpha Tau and he already can’t see his life without it. It has given him some of the greatest relationships of his life and the comfort of having dependable and equally-passionate friends.

Andy Schlebecker (2015)
Pledge Class: Fall 2012
Andy is a Film Production student who wants to go into children’s television. As a kid, Andy would wake up at 7am every Saturday morning to absorb all the mind-numbing genius of the cartoons of the late 90’s. Now, he wants to one day make one himself. For the past year and a half, Andy has been writing and rewriting the concept and screenplays of his very own animated kids’ series with his best friend, Ali. Now on draft 55, they are planning a staged reading of its pilot this coming December. On campus, Andy directs two television shows and associate produces a third, is the segment producer of the EVVYs, and has spent his extra time planning his animated BFA thesis. His dream would be to one day work at Nickelodeon.

Logan Reever (2017)
Pledge Class: Fall 2013
Currently a broadcaster for Emerson Channel Sports, Logan is also aWeb Writer and Correspondent for WEBN Sports, Sports Reporter for EIV News at 6, Writer for EIV News at 9, and Panelist for Unsportsmanlike Conduct. Logan became interested in Tau based on the connections he could conceive making for future professions and with the knowledge that this organization would prepare him for the real world. Tau has already benefited him by giving me life-long friends in such a short period of time already. It also has given him a sense of what kind of self-conduct and the amount of work necessary for success.

Jake Schwartz (2017)
Pledge Class: Fall 2013
As a first semester Freshman, Jake has been joining a few of the filmmaking organizations and has been working on getting hired to work on some student film productions. He decided to pledge for Tau because of the focus on professionalism and the character of the current active brotherhood. So far, Tau has gained him an internship at the Political Action Committee for Gov. Deval Patrick as a Post-Production Intern.

Ryan Sweeney (2015)
Pledge Class: Fall 2011
Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Ryan has been an active brother of Phi Alpha Tau since his first semester freshman year and is a BFA Stage and Production Management. He currently serves as the fraternity’s secretary. On campus, Ryan has held a variety of roles on both student and main stage productions, including those with the Musical Theatre Society, the EVVY Awards, and Emerson Stage. He also served as a member of the 2013-2014 Undergraduate Orientation Core Staff, planning Orientation for the thousand plus new students that arrived on campus this past Fall. Ryan works in the Performing Arts Admissions office, assisting prospective students in their audition and application process; and in the box office of the Lyric Stage Company. He is also the Assistant to the Senior Production Manager in the Office of the Arts, and the development intern at the American Repertory Theater. In his spare time, he enjoys swimming, reading, and traveling. He hopes to pursue a career in Arts Administration.

Ethan Weiser (2015)
Pledge Class: Fall 2012
A junior BA Film Production major with a minor in writing, he is involved in productions with Musical Theater Society, Rareworks Theater Company, Shakespeare Society, Kidding Around, and Emerson Dance Company. He is also the Executive Producer of the program Common Agenda on the Emerson Channel. He currently works at the Television Studios as a Technical Support Specialist. His interest in Tau came through the organizations professionalism, and the member’s abilities to gain leadership positions throughout the college. He has since become immersed in the brotherhood aspect of the fraternity, and some of his best friends have both come from within the organization, and have joined after him. Phi Alpha Tau has helped Ethan gain a huge amount of professional experience with connections that have leaded him to many leadership positions, as well as personal connections that have been some of the most important of his life.

David Weiner (2016)
Pledge Class: Spring 2013
David Weiner is a Journalism major with a minor in Entrepreneurial Studies. He holds the position of Sergeant At Arms on the Executive Board of Phi Alpha Tau. He currently works for EIV News at 6 as an Associate Feature Producer and Reporter. David is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Noteworthy, the oldest a Capella group at Emerson. David currently does freelance photography and writing for Security Service Specialists, a high profile special security business and has worked professionally in radio in his home state of Kansas. David became interested in Tau after observing the professionalism and brotherhood of the fraternity at social and philanthropic events. Tau has provided him with a wonderful support group of friends, business partners, mentors and brothers. He says that to date, pledging Tau has been his best decision since coming to Emerson College.

Sam Weisberg (2017)
Pledge Class: Fall 2013
Sam is a Theatre Studies: Directing major interested primarily in working in the area between musical theatre and opera, as well as any type of avant-garde, genre-bending theatre. He directed four shows before coming to Emerson, including an original musical, and hopes to continue doing more work with the student theatre groups on campus. Outside of theatre, he also has very strong interests in food, particularly in mixology/bartending.

Phi Alpha Tau Scholarship

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The Alumni Board of Phi Alpha Tau is raising funds to endow a scholarship to support active brothers with the rising cost of a college education.

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Phi Alpha Tau Quick

We value initiative, ambition, effectiveness, creativity, and men of their word.
If this sounds like your thing, we encourage you to reach out to us.
Come to one of our events, introduce yourself to a brother, ask around; sooner or later you will meet a Tau.
We are not a national fraternity with chapters around the country, but we are very proud of our close-knit alumni network that touches all corners of the communicative arts, worldwide.
And at least at Emerson, we do tend to be at the center of things.